Revenue Streams

You're probably going to have to click on those pictures to get a better look at the billboards.  I realized this past week that something was missing from my arena - something to give it the look of a true sports facility and not just a random parking lot.  Advertisements.  Lots and lots of advertisements.

Following in the grand Steve Jackson games tradition, I've decided to keep things local.  The Hawaii Autoduel Arena (Drive with Aloha - Drive Well Armed) is the largest AADA sanctioned facility in the state.  With only four portable jersey barriers, it's not the most technically sophisticated arena around, but it is flexible.  And let's face it - autoduel fans aren't known for their high level of sophistication anyway.

Next Up:  My Fave

Pedestrians Double Crossing

On those rare special occasions when your driver actually walks away from a wreck, you need a figure for the other cars' aim.  Caesar Miniatures sells a box of Modern Militia (Asian and Somali Militia) that should serve just fine.  A lot of these guys are obviously Arab terrorist types with AK-47s and turbans and whatnot.  They'll look fine on the table top when painted up right.  I'm thinking flashy logo apparel.  One guy has a balacalava that looks exactly like the ones NASCAR drivers wear under their helmets, so he's good to go.

These little guys are 1/72 scale, so the scale is a little bit off.  But Matchbox cars have a pretty fluid scale themselves.  If you don't think about it too hard, they fit in just fine.  Thinking about using The Dip technique.  I actually prefer to drybrush white, then block in colors and dry brush one or two layers of lighter color for highlights, but that would mean buying three times as many colors, and I just don't have room for that.  So it's The Dip for me.  Stay tuned and I'll try and post a walk-through of the technique.

I had to special order this box from my new favorite hobby shop, Weller's Hobbycraft.  Right now I'm painting up 10 of the 36.  While writing this post, I realized that some of my 10 cars have gunners, so I may have to prime up a few more extras.  I'd paint up the whole box for pedestrian on vehicle mayhem, but they won't all fit inside the One Box to Rule Them All.



Next Up: Gunfight on Madison Avenue

Slick New Drop Weapons

Two quick picks today of the latest drop weapons.  Oil slicks in both the standard and the high temperature variety.  One shot shows of the flame coloring, and the other shows how glossy the slicks look in decent lighting. The oil is a 50/50 mix of black paint and glue.  The flames are white construction papered colored with crayon and cut to fit.  They'd look better with more wavy flames, as opposed to the regular tooth-like pattern, but I wanted something that would pack up well and last through heavy play.  

Next up:  Cheese it!

Car of the Day: Lo-Beam

I was tempted to use this car for the Killer Kart, what with the low slung body option and all.  But really, if you're going to drive with the most expensive weapon around, you've got to put it in a classy chassis like this one.  The basic inaccuracy of the laser is partially offset by the presence of a gunner.  Car like this, I figure the gunner's got to be a smoking hot babe, right?

Speaking of which, many thanks to the wife for letting me use one of her Swarovski crystals.  In an odd bit of synchronicity, today happens to be her *mumble*th birthday.

Next Up:  Shopping for the wife's birthday present.  I hope she'll be happy if I get her pedestrian figures for the game.

Car of the Day: Assassin

A rocket launcher, with a gunner.  That's a strong combination.  You're more accurate than most weapons, and do more damage than most weapons, too.  Not only that, but this thing is a tank. That gunner isn't going anywhere with more than 130 armor protecting him.

I don't much care for the simple cardboard bases that these cars sit on.  They are more gray and less brown than shown in these pictures, but until I get a chance to match some paint to the drop cloth I'm using, it'll have to do.

Next Up:  Lo-Beam

Car of the Day: Dagger

Dagger, I barely knew her!  The micro-missile launcher mounted on the roof of the Dagger isn't in a turret.  It does, however, look just like every other micro-missile launcher on my other cars.  So it's got that going for it.  The ram plates on my car vary as much as the rest of car body stylings, though.  That makes it look like each one was hand crafted their respective drivers.  It also gives each one a little more personality, too.

Next Up: Assassin

Car of the Day: Omega-5

The title on this car didn't show up nearly as well as I'd hoped.  Ah well, this is probably my least favorite car.  Those body blades are useless until some 1:64 dudes show up in the arena.  Otherwise, this weakling has one heavy punch and that's about it.  You can really only use the overpowered ram plate on this guy two times, tops.  I just don't see him lasting very long when matched up against serious competition.

Next Up: Dagger